Method for packaging cut trees



Aug. 19, 1958 E. B. ROBBINS 2,847,305

' METHOD FOR PACKAGING CUT TREES Filed May 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. EauesT E. Roaams ATTOQMEY Aug. 19, 1958 E. B. ROBBINS2,347,805

METHOD FOR PACKAGING cur TREES Filed May 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2SPRAYIN a $5.

mp enc INVENTOR. Ezuas'r B. lzc amus r-ronzusvs United States PatentMETHOD FUR PACKAGING CUT TREES Ernest B. Robbins, Livermore Falls, MaineApplication May 4, 1956, Serial No. 582,713

3 Claims. (Cl. 53--24) The present invention relates to method forpackaging cut trees for transport, storage, and sale.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for packagingcut trees, which enables the tree in its entirety to be encased in aprotective casing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method forpackaging cut trees in which the cut tree is housed in a protectivecasing without damage to its branches and foliage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method forpackaging cut trees which is simple, efficient in action, and uses aminimum of equipment.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the reel and feed assembly containinga supply of the flexible casing for use in carrying out the packagingmethod of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tree inserting memberemployed in carrying out the packaging method of the present inventionwith an end of a cut length of casing in position for mounting on saidmember;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the assembly of Figure 2, with partsin section and broken away, but with the end of the casing mounted inposition on the tree inserting member;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the cutlength of casing in fully mounted position on the tree inserting member;and

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the steps of the packaging method of thepresent invention.

In carrying out the method for packaging a cut tree having a trunk stubprojected from the lower end, according to the present invention, thereis provided an open ended tunnel 10 having a small end 11 and a largeend 12. A hollow extension 13 projects axially from the small end 11 ofthe tunnel 19. The tunnel 10 is mounted upon the upper ends of legs 14,15 and 16, which are formed integrally with and rise from the apex andends of the arms of a V-shaped base 17.

Next a rigid forming element 18 is attached to the portion 19 adjacentone end of an open ended flexible casing 20 which has been cut to alength completely housing a tree 21 and the trunk stub 22 which projectsfrom the lower end of the tree 21.

The next step comprises placing the forming element 18 in such aposition that it removably embraces the extension 13 and arranging thepart of the casing 20 between the attached portion 19 and the other endso that it lies in superimposed folds upon the attached portion 19 withthe portion 23 of the casing 20 adjacent the other end exteriorly of theextension 13 and in the position for ready grasping by the hand of anindividual.

The tree 21 is now inserted into the large end 12 of the tunnel 10 sothat the trunk stub 22 faces toward the 2,847,805 Patented Aug. 19, 1958jecting trunk stub 22 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 5 anda short length of string 24 is used to tie the end of the portion 23exteriorly of and adjacent to the end of the trunk stub 22.

The part of the casing 21 which surrounds the trunk stub 22 is thengrasped by constricting it into engagement with the trunk stub 22 tosimultaneously eliect grasping of the trunk stub therethrough. A pullingforce is then applied to the thus grasped casing part and trunk stubuntil the tree 21 is fully withdrawn from the tunnel l0 and theextension 13.

If it is now desired an insecticide may be sprayed through the nozzle 25of a spray apparatus with the nozzle 25 projecting through the rigidforming element, as shown in Figure 7.

The next step comprises removing the rigid forming element 18 from thecasing 20, severing the part of the casing 20 adjacent the extension 13and, with another short length of string 26 tying the severed part ofthe casing 20 as shown in Figure 8.

The casing 20 is preferably fabricated of an impervious material such asplastic, resin-coated fiber glass, or the like, but it may also beconstructed of any flexible material such as knitted or woven cotton,linen, or burlap. The casing 20 may be provided in roll form as shown inFigure 1 and indicated by the reference numeral 27 and means is providedfor cutting the casing 20 to suitable lengths, the means including aknife apparatus 28 and at delivering apparatus 29 consisting of a pairof rollers drivably connected to a source of power, the latter not beingshown.

It will be seen therefore that the present invention provides a neat andefficient package enclosing a tree, the packaging, according to thepresent invention, providing for efficient packing and storing of treesand bushes and permitting their preservation for greater lengths of timethan at present when trees are cut and stored in piles or bundles.

What is claimed is:

l. The method for packaging a tree having a trunk stub projecting fromthe lower end which comprises providing an open ended tunnel having oneend smaller than the other end with a hollow extension projectingaxially from the smaller end, removably attaching to said extension theportion adjacent one end of an open ended flexible casing cut to alength to completely house said tree and trunk stub, arranging the partof said casing between said attached portion and the other end so thatit lies in superimposed folds upon said attached portion with theportion adjacent the other end of the casing exteriorly of saidextension and in position for ready grasping by a hand of an individual,inserting said tree into the larger end of said tunnel so that the trunkstub faces toward the smaller end, causing the thus inserted tree to bepushed through the tunnel until the trunk stub projects beyond theextension and the portion adjacent the other end of said casing, pullingthe portion adjacent the other end of said casing over and beyond theprojecting trunk stub and tying said other end casing portion, graspingthe part of said casing which surrounds the trunk stub and constrictingit into gripping engagement with the trunk stub to simultaneously effectgrasping of the trunk stub therethrough, applying a pulling force to thethus grasped casing part and trunk stub until the tree has been fullywithdrawn from said tunnel and said extension, detaching the portionadjacent one end of said casing from said extension, and tying said oneend casing portion.

2. The method for packaging a tree having a trunk stub projecting fromthe lower end which comprises providing an open ended tunnel having oneend smaller than the other end with a hollow extension projectingaxially from the smaller end, attaching a rigid forming element to theportion adjacent one end of an open ended flexible casing cut to alength to completely house said tree and trunk stub, causing saidforming element to removably embrace said extension, arranging the partof said casing between said attached portion and the other end so thatit lies in superimposed folds upon said attached portion with theportion adjacent the other end of the casing exteriorly of saidextension and in position for ready grasping by a hand of an individual,inserting said tree into the larger end of said tunnel so that the trunkstub faces toward the smaller end, causing the thus inserted tree to bepushed through the tunnel until the trunk stub projects beyond theextension and the portion adjacent the other end of said casing, pullingthe portion adjacent the other end of said casing over and beyond theprojecting trunk stub and tying said other end casing portion, graspingthe part of said casing which surrounds the trunk stub and constrictingit into gripping engagement with the trunk stub to simultaneously effectgrasping of the trunk stub therethrough, applying a pulling force to thethus grasped casing part and trunk stub until the tree has been fullywithdrawn from said tunnel and said extension, removing said formingelement from said extension, severing the part of said casing adjacentsaid extension, and tying said severed part.

3. The method for packaging a tree having a trunk stub projecting fromthe lower end which comprises providing an open ended tunnel having oneend smaller than the other end with a hollow extension projectingaxially from the smaller end, attaching a rigid forming element to theportion adjacent one end of an open ended flexible casing cut to alength to completely house said tree and trunk stub, causing saidforming element to removably embrace said extension, arranging the partof said casing between said attached portion and the other end so thatit lies in superimposed folds upon said attached portion with theportion adjacent the other end of the casing exteriorly of saidextension and in position for ready grasping by a hand of an individual,inserting said tree into the larger end of said tunnel so that the trunkstub faces toward the smaller end, causing the thus inserted tree to bepushed through the tunnel until the trunk stub projects beyond theextension and the portion adjacent the other end of said casing, pullingthe portion adjacent the other end of said casing over and beyond theprojecting trunk stub and tying said other end casing portion, graspingthe part of said casing which surrounds the trunk stub and constrictingit into gripping engagement with the trunk stub to simultaneously effectgrasping of the trunk stub therethrough, applying a pulling force to thethus grasped casing part and trunk stub until the tree has been fullyWithdrawn from said tunnel and said extension, removing said formingelement from said extension, injecting an insecticide into said casingthrough said extension, severing the part of said casing adjacent saidextension, and tying said severed part.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Re.14,318 Hayashi June 19, 1917 2,656,658 Grady Oct. 27, 1953 2,720,055Morris Oct. 11, 1955

